Manual upper seatback support

ABSTRACT

A vehicle seating assembly includes a lower seatback. An upper seatback is operably coupled to the lower seatback. The upper seatback is pivotally mounted to the lower seatback at a pivot axis. A manual articulation assembly operably couples the lower seatback with the upper seatback. The manual articulation assembly includes a housing member having a cam channel and an inner wall with a plurality of engagement recesses. A positional cam includes a cam pin engaged with the cam channel and an outer wall with a plurality of engagement teeth in removable engagement with the plurality of engagement recesses.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure generally relates to a vehicle seating assemblywith a seatback support, and more particularly to a vehicle seatingassembly with a manual upper seatback support.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Vehicle seating assemblies typically include a seatback to support aback of an occupant in an upright sitting position and various reclinedpositions. Similar to other portions of a vehicle seating assembly,seatbacks are commonly designed to support an occupant in the uprightsitting position upon acceleration, change in direction, and collisionof the vehicle. Accordingly, seatbacks are substantially rigid andsizeable in construction.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a vehicle seatingassembly includes a lower seatback. An upper seatback is operablycoupled to the lower seatback. The upper seatback is pivotally mountedto the lower seatback at a pivot axis. A manual articulation assemblyoperably couples the lower seatback with the upper seatback. The manualarticulation assembly includes a housing member having a cam channel andan inner wall with a plurality of engagement recesses. A positional camincludes a cam pin engaged with the cam channel and an outer wall with aplurality of engagement teeth in removable engagement with the pluralityof engagement recesses.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a vehicle seatingassembly includes a lower seatback and an upper seatback. Anarticulation assembly pivotally couples the lower seatback with theupper seatback. The manual articulation assembly includes a housingmember having a cam channel and an inner wall with a plurality ofengagement recesses. A positional cam includes a cam pin engaged withthe cam channel and an outer wall with a plurality of engagement teethengaged with the plurality of engagement recesses.

According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a vehicleseating assembly includes a lower seatback. An upper seatback isoperably coupled to the lower seatback. The upper seatback is pivotallymounted to the lower seatback at a pivot axis. A manual articulationassembly is coupled to and disposed between the lower seatback and theupper seatback and is configured to temporarily lock the upper seatbackat one of a plurality of angled positions relative to the lowerseatback.

These and other aspects, objects, and features of the present disclosurewill be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art uponstudying the following specification, claims, and appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of one embodiment of a vehicle seatingassembly in a vehicle of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged top perspective view of the vehicle seatingassembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded top perspective view of a seatback suspensionsystem of the vehicle seating assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the seatback suspension system ofFIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of an upper seatback of the seatbacksuspension system of FIG. 3 with a linking member;

FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of the upper seatback of FIG. 5 withbrackets;

FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view of the upper seatback of FIG. 5 with asupport bar;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the vehicle seating assembly ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of an additional embodiment of thevehicle seating assembly of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a top perspective view of one embodiment of a portion of anupper seatback of a vehicle seating assembly;

FIG. 11 is a top perspective view of one embodiment of a manualarticulation assembly;

FIG. 12 is a top perspective view of a manual articulation assembly ofthe present disclosure partially disassembled and prior to connectionwith an arcuate back support bar;

FIG. 13 is a side perspective view of the manual articulation assemblyof FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of one embodiment of a manualarticulation assembly at a design angle of zero degrees incline;

FIG. 14A is a side elevational view of the manual articulation assemblyof FIG. 14 with the cam disengaged from the housing before rotation to aforward position;

FIG. 14B is a side elevational view of the manual articulation assemblyof FIG. 14 with the cam disengaged from the housing after rotation to aforward position;

FIG. 15 is a side elevational view of the manual articulation assemblyof FIG. 14 with the cam after engagement of the cam teeth with the camengagement teeth of the housing at a five degree forward incline;

FIG. 16 is a side elevational view of the manual articulation assemblyof FIG. 14 with the cam after engagement of the cam teeth with the camengagement teeth of the housing at a 10 degree forward incline;

FIG. 17 is a side elevational view of the manual articulation assemblyof FIG. 14 with the cam after engagement of the cam teeth with the camengagement teeth of the housing at a 15 degree forward incline;

FIG. 17A is a side elevational view of the manual articulation assemblyof FIG. 14 with the cam teeth disengaged from the cam engagement teethin the housing after rotation to a forward position; and

FIG. 17B a side elevational view of the manual articulation assembly ofFIG. 14 after the cam has been reset to the design position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,”“left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivativesthereof shall relate to the disclosure as oriented in FIG. 1. However,it is to be understood that the disclosure may assume variousalternative orientations, except where expressly specified to thecontrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices andprocesses illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in thefollowing specification are simply exemplary embodiments of theinventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specificdimensions and other physical characteristics relating to theembodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting,unless the claims expressly state otherwise.

In this document, relational terms, such as first and second, top andbottom, and the like, are used solely to distinguish one entity oraction from another entity or action, without necessarily requiring orimplying any actual such relationship or order between such entities oractions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variationthereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that aprocess, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elementsdoes not include only those elements but may include other elements notexpressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, orapparatus. An element proceeded by “comprises . . . a” does not, withoutmore constraints, preclude the existence of additional identicalelements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprisesthe element.

Referring to FIGS. 1-17B, reference numeral 9 generally designates avehicle having a vehicle seating assembly 10 that includes a lowerseatback 12. An upper seatback 14 is operably coupled to the lowerseatback 12. The upper seatback 14 is pivotally mounted to the lowerseatback 12 at a pivot axis 16. An arcuate back support bar 18 isdisposed in the upper seatback 14 and is configured to rotate the upperseatback 14 between forward and rearward positions. The arcuate backsupport bar 18 includes first and second generally linear members 20, 22and an arcuate intermediate portion 24 disposed between the first andsecond generally linear members 20, 22. An articulation assemblyoperably couples the lower seatback 12 with the upper seatback 14.

With reference again to FIG. 1, the illustrated vehicle seating assembly10 is configured for use in a vehicle of any type, including, withoutlimitation, cars, vans, trucks, buses, etc. The vehicle seating assembly10 is suspended on rails that allow movement of the vehicle seatingassembly 10 in fore and aft directions. In addition, the vehicle seatingassembly 10 may include a variety of comfort controls, including, forexample, thigh support using independent thigh bolsters 30, lumbarsupport, and upper thoracic support. The vehicle seating assembly 10includes a head restraint 32 that is disposed on the upper seatback 14.The head restraint 32 is movable between forward and rearward positionsto accommodate various sized heads of passengers, as well as differentheights of passengers. The vehicle seating assembly 10 also includescontrols specifically configured to adjust an upper thoracic portion 34of the upper seatback 14.

With reference to FIG. 3, the vehicle seating assembly 10 includes aseatback assembly 48 with a seatback suspension system 50 supported on aframe 52. The frame 52 of the seatback assembly 48 of the vehicleseating assembly 10 includes a first side support 54 and a second sidesupport 56 that define the frame 52. The first and second side supports54, 56 of the frame 52 pivotally couple with a rear portion of a seat 60and extend upward from the seat 60 to a top portion of the seatbackassembly 48 and connect with an upper lateral brace 62. The upperlateral brace 62 of the seatback assembly 48 extends between the firstand second side supports 54, 56. The head restraint 32 is operablycoupled with the upper lateral brace 62 of the seatback assembly 48 andis substantially centered between the first and second side supports 54,56. The upper lateral brace 62, as well as a lower lateral brace 64, ofthe seatback suspension system 50 are coupled with and span between thefirst and second side supports 54, 56, such that the seatback suspensionsystem 50 is positioned generally between the head restraint 32 and theseat 60 to support the back of a passenger. It is contemplated that thehead restraint 32 may be integrated with the top portion of the seatbackassembly 48 or that the head restraint 32 may otherwise not be includedon the vehicle seating assembly 10.

Referring again to FIG. 3, the first and second side supports 54, 56extend upward from a recliner heart bracket 66 having a recliner heart67 that pivotally couples the seatback assembly 48 with the seat 60. Thefirst and second side supports 54, 56 are substantially parallel witheach other and curve upward and rearward from the recliner heart bracket66 to provide a curved shape that complements the shape of the spinalcolumn of a passenger. Further, the first and second side supports 54,56 are thicker and more robust proximate the recliner heart bracket 66and taper as they extend upward to couple with the upper lateral brace62 that extends orthogonally between the first and second side supports54, 56. The upper lateral brace 62 of the frame 52 includes connectors68 for securing the head restraint 32 at a central portion of the upperlateral brace 62 centrally between the first and second side supports54, 56. The connectors 68 are defined by upward protruding tabsconfigured to couple with the head restraint 32.

With reference again to FIGS. 3-7, the lower seatback 12 of the seatbacksuspension system 50, as shown in FIG. 3, includes flex members 70extending from each of a first side connector 71 and a second sideconnector 73 of the seatback assembly 48. The first and second sideconnectors 71, 73 are operably coupled with and support side bolsters 69(FIG. 2). The lower seatback 12 is positioned adjacent to the seat 60and includes a lower comfort carrier 74 that supports the lower back ofa passenger. Similarly, the upper seatback 14 of the seatback assembly48 has an upper comfort carrier 75 operably coupled with a curved flexmember 76 operably coupled with the arcuate back support bar 18. Theflex member 76 of the upper lateral brace 62 is disposed above the firstand second side connectors 71, 73. The flex member 76 includes a recess77 in a top portion thereof configured to adequately space the flexmember 76 from the head restraint 32. The flex member 76 also includes aplurality of outwardly extending reinforcement flanges 81. The curvedflex member 76 includes three connecting features 83 that work assnap-fit connecting arrangements to secure the upper comfort carrier 75with the curved flex member 76. In the illustrated embodiment, thearcuate back support bar 18 is coupled with the flex member 76 via afriction-fit engagement. Other connecting arrangements are alsocontemplated. It is conceivable that the lower and upper seatbacks 12,14 may be integrated into a single component or several componentsspanning the seatback assembly 48.

The flex member 76 of the upper seatback 14 of the seatback suspensionsystem 50, as shown in FIGS. 4-7, generally defines a support basketthat supports the upper back of a passenger. The flex member 76 of theupper lateral brace 62 is coupled with the arcuate back support bar 18that laterally extends between the first and second side supports 54, 56of the frame 52. The arcuate back support bar 18 is pivotally coupledrelative to pivot pins 92 to allow the flex member 76 to pivot forwardand rearward about the pivot axis 16. Further, the arcuate back supportbar 18 is operably coupled with a motor 94 via a linking member 96 toadjustably rotate the arcuate back support bar 18. Consequently, theupper seatback 14 can be pivoted forward and rearward relative to aplurality of angled positions to the lower seatback 12 and the frame 52,as described in more detail below.

With reference again to FIGS. 3-6, the pivot pins 92 generally definethe pivot axis 16. The upper seatback 14 includes a forward articulatingportion 100 that is operably coupled to the lower seatback 12. Morespecifically, the forward articulating portion 100 is pivotally mountedto the lower seatback 12 at the pivot axis 16. The arcuate back supportbar 18 is disposed in the upper seatback 14 and configured to rotate theupper seatback 14 between forward and rearward positions. The arcuateback support bar 18 includes a generally U-shaped configuration. Thefirst and second generally linear members 20, 22 and the arcuateintermediate portion 24 generally define a central open space 102 in theseatback assembly 48. An articulation assembly 110 operably couples theforward articulating portion 100 of the upper seatback 14 with theseatback assembly 48 and allows for movement between the forward andrearward positions. Notably, the flex member 76 or support basket may befastened to the arcuate intermediate portion 24 of the arcuate backsupport bar 18, or may be overmolded directly onto the arcuateintermediate portion 24. The arcuate back support bar 18 is connected tobrackets 112 that extend forward relative to the first and secondgenerally linear members 20, 22 of the arcuate back support bar 18. Thearcuate back support bar 18 is configured to rotate about a forwardportion of the brackets 112 at the pivot pins 92. Consequently, theentire upper seatback 14 can be rotated about a forward portion of thebrackets 112.

The seatback suspension system 50, as shown in FIG. 3, includes theframe 52, which may be constructed of metal or other rigid material, anda hard back panel 120 configured to substantially enclose a rear portionof the frame 52. The vehicle seating assembly 10 also includes a fronttrim panel 130. The front trim panel 130, together with the hard backpanel 120, generally define a shell that covers the frame 52 of theseatback assembly 48. The hard back panel 120 couples with the frame 52to substantially enclose a rear portion of the frame 52. Similarly, thefront trim panel 130 couples with a front portion of the frame 52 toenclose a top front portion of the frame 52. The front trim panel 130includes a mounting cutaway 133 for accommodating the head restraint 32,which extends therethrough to couple with the upper lateral brace 62 ofthe frame 52. The front trim panel 130 and the hard back panel 120 alsoengage the frame 52 proximate the upper lateral brace 62, the first sidesupport 54, and the second side support 56, substantially enclosing anedge portion of the frame 52. The front trim panel 130 and hard backpanel 120 are typically molded with a polymer material and the frame 52is constructed substantially of steel, aluminum, or anothersubstantially rigid metal. It is conceivable that alternative materialsor forming methods may be used for the shell and the frame 52. Inaddition, the shell, or portions thereof, may conceivably be integratedwith the frame 52.

Referring once again to FIG. 3, the upper seatback 14 and lower seatback12 of the seatback suspension system 50 are configured to operablycouple with a passenger cushion assembly 140. More specifically, theflex members 70, 76 on the lower seatback 12 and upper seatback 14,respectively, extend forward to engage and support the back of apassenger. The passenger cushion assembly 140 includes the lower comfortcarrier 74, the upper comfort carrier 75, a cushion assembly 142, and acoverstock 144. The flex members 70, 76 operably couple to the lowercomfort carrier 74 and the upper comfort carrier 75 in a snap-fit andfriction-fit arrangement. The cushion assembly 142 is disposed betweenthe lower comfort carrier 74 and the upper comfort carrier 75 and thecoverstock 144 and between the lower comfort carrier 74 and thecoverstock 144. It is conceivable that the passenger cushion assembly140 may include more or fewer layers between the coverstock 144 and theupper comfort carrier 75. Further, it is conceivable that the passengercushion assembly 140 may be one integral piece with the flex members 70,76 of the seatback suspension system 50.

As shown in FIG. 3, the flex members 70 each include three connectingfeatures 150 arranged longitudinally and in alignment with complementaryfeatures on first and second side connectors 71, 73 of the lowerseatback 12 for fastening the flex members 70 of the lower seatback 12to the passenger cushion assembly 140. The flex members 70 of the lowerseatback 12 extend forward and outward from the seatback assembly 48 tocreate an external peripheral gap 152. The pivot pins 92 pivotallycouple with the first and second side connectors 71, 73, generally abovethe lower lateral brace 64.

With reference now to FIGS. 3-5, the upper seatback 14 is pivotableforward and rearward about the pivot axis 16. The motor 94 is operablycoupled with the arcuate back support bar 18 and configured to rotatablyadjust the arcuate back support bar 18 and the upper portion of thepassenger cushion assembly 140 forward and rearward relative to thelower portion. The linking member 96 operably couples the motor 94 withthe end of the arcuate back support bar 18. The linking member 96 mayinclude a direct gear connection between the motor 94 and the arcuateback support bar 18. Alternatively, the upper portion of the passengercushion assembly 140, and specifically the flex member 76, mayalternatively be pivoted via a manual gear assembly, as discussed infurther detail herein. The upper portion is pivotal between a forwardposition, a rearward position, and various intermediate positionstherebetween. When the upper seatback 14 is in the rearward position,the upper segment of the passenger support is substantially aligned withthe seatback structure as a whole, as illustrated in FIG. 8. As theupper seatback 14 moves to the intermediate positions and further to theforward position, the upper segment of the passenger support tiltsforward to provide additional support to the upper back of a passenger(see FIG. 9). Accordingly, the external peripheral gap 152 expandsproximate the upper seatback 14 as the flex member 76 pivots forward tothe forward position. It is contemplated that the vehicle seatingassembly 10 may be configured to optionally pivot the upper seatback 14from the rearward position to the intermediate positions and further tothe forward position simultaneously as the seatback assembly 48 reclinesfrom an upright position to a reclined position relative to the seat 60.

As shown in FIG. 4, the vehicle seating assembly 10 includes a motorbrace 180 that operably couples the motor 94 with the seatback assembly48. A lower end of the linking member 96 connects with the motor 94 andan upper end connects at a pivot junction 182, where the arcuate backsupport bar 18 couples with the brackets 112. Notably, the arcuate backsupport bar 18, and consequently the upper seatback 14, rotates aboutthe pivot axis 16 located through a forward portion of the bracket 112.The linking member 96 is coupled with a worm gear that is operablycoupled with the motor 94. The motor 94 operates to drive the linkingmember 96 up or down based upon the rotational direction of the motor94. It is conceivable that the motor 94 may be replaced with a manuallyrotatable knob to cause the upper component to pivot about the arcuateback support bar 18. Further, it is conceivable that various alternativelinkage arrangements, such as those that include a Bowden cable, may beused to rotate the arcuate back support bar 18 and pivot the upperseatback 14.

With reference now to FIG. 10, it is also contemplated that the upperseatback 14 may be adjusted manually rather than by an automated ormotorized system. In the illustrated embodiment, the arcuate backsupport bar 18 is pivotally coupled at one of the first and secondgenerally linear members 20, 22 and a first linear end is pivotallycoupled with a manual articulation assembly 200 that is manuallyadjustable and configured to secure or lock the upper seatback 14 in avariety of positions relative to the lower seatback 12.

As shown in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 11-13, the manualarticulation assembly 200 includes a housing 204 having cam engagementteeth 206 disposed on an inner wall 208 thereof. A positional cam 210 isdisposed inside the housing 204 and includes complementary cam teeth 212configured to engage with the cam engagement teeth 206 of the housing204. The housing 204 includes a cam channel in the form of an elongateslot 214 and a cam channel spring member 220 that moves inside theelongate slot 214 to adjust the positional cam 210 in a verticaldirection inside the housing 204. The cam channel spring member 220extends around a guide shaft. A cam return spring 222 is coupled to atab 224 on one end of the cam and configured to rotate the positionalcam 210 to a zero degree or rearward position inside the housing 204.The elongate slot 214 extends vertically through a middle portion of thehousing 204. A positional cam pin 230 extends into the elongate slot 214that extends through the housing 204 and is linearly slidable in the camchannel. The positional cam pin 230 extends through the positional cam210 and is operably coupled with one of the first and second generallylinear members 20, 22 of the vehicle seating assembly 10. The camchannel spring member 220 forces the cam pin 230, and consequently, thepositional cam 210, upward such that the cam engagement teeth 206 areengaged with the cam teeth 212. To rotate the positional cam 210 insidethe housing 204, a user would push a lever coupled with the cam pin 230downward to disengage the cam teeth 212. In use, the manual articulationassembly 200 is in a design position with the positional cam 210 in afully rearward position inside the housing 204. In this position, thecam teeth 212 are in a fully rearward position and engaged with the camengagement teeth 206 on the inside wall 208 of the housing 204 (see FIG.14). A generally square-shaped guide slot 240 is disposed in an upperportion of the positional cam 210. The square-shaped guide slot 240includes a guide pin 242 that extends therethrough. The guide pin 242moves around the square-shaped guide slot 240 and helps guide thepositional cam 210 as the positional cam 210 rotates from a fullyrearward position to various intermediate positions, and ultimatelyterminates or stops at a fully forward position. The guide pin 242rotates around a center island 244 that helps guide the pin 242 alongthe square-shaped guide slot 240. The guide pin 242 will come to rest atany of a variety of positions along the bottom portion of thesquare-shaped guide slot 240.

With reference now to FIGS. 14A and 14B, in one embodiment, to affectmovement of the upper seatback 14 forward, a lever on an externalperiphery of the vehicle seating assembly 10 that is coupled with thepositional cam 210 is lowered, such that the cam teeth 212 of thepositional cam 210 disengage the cam engagement teeth 206 on the insidewall 208 of the housing 204. The arcuate back support bar 18 may bespring-biased to a forward position and allowed to move a predetermineddistance forward relative to the seatback assembly 48. The cam teeth 212of the positional cam 210 are then allowed to re-engage the camengagement teeth 206 as the passenger allows the positional cam 210 toagain move to a raised position. Notably, the cam channel spring member220 of the manual articulation assembly 200 has a stronger compressionforce than the tension force of the cam return spring 222. Accordingly,absent force applied by a passenger, the positional cam 210 will stay inthe raised position. Further, it will be understood that the cam returnspring 222 is designed to rotate the positional cam 210 rearward insidethe housing 204. After the cam engagement teeth 206 re-engage with thecam teeth 212 on the inside wall 208 of the housing 204, the upperseatback 14 is now in a forward intermediate position. This samemovement can be repeated to move the seatback to another forwardintermediate position, or ultimately, to a fully forward position, asillustrated in FIG. 17. It is contemplated that the positional cam 210may be positioned in the design position (FIG. 14), and be movable to arear intermediate position of approximately 5 degrees (FIG. 15), aforward intermediate position of approximately 10 degrees (FIG. 16), anda fully forward position of approximately 15 degrees (FIG. 17). It willbe appreciated by a person having ordinary skill in the art that theamount of incline can differ, depending on the desired use. Theaforementioned inclination angles are intended to be examples only.

With reference again to FIGS. 14-17B, the manual articulation assembly200 can include a ratcheting system that works as follows. Initially, asillustrated in FIGS. 11 and 14, the upper seatback 14 is in a designposition at zero degrees inclination relative to the seatback assembly48. From this position, a user can grasp the upper seatback 14 and urgethe upper seatback 14 forward relative to the seatback assembly 48 suchthat the upper seatback 14 becomes inclined relative to the seatbackassembly 48. As the upper seatback 14 is rotated forward, cam teeth 212begin to ratchet forward. FIG. 15 illustrates the cam teeth 212 movingforward one position relative to the cam engagement teeth 206 such thatthe upper seatback 14 is now at a predetermined position, for example,five degrees forward, relative to the seatback assembly 48. The user maycontinue to urge the upper seatback 14 forward to further inclinedpositions (e.g., 10 degrees (FIG. 16)), or to a maximum inclinationangle of the upper seatback 14 relative to the seatback assembly 48 asshown in FIG. 17 (e.g., 15 degrees).

With reference again to FIGS. 11-17, once the user has ratcheted theupper seatback 14 to the most forward position relative to the seatbackassembly 48, the user cannot further urge the upper seatback 14 anyfurther forward. To return the upper seatback 14 to the design or zerodegree position, the user simply urges the upper seatback 14 evenfurther forward from the furthest position forward as shown in FIG. 17,such that the positional cam 210 is urged downward by a forward slope250 disposed adjacent the cam engagement 206 of the housing 204 againstthe upward spring bias of the cam channel spring member 220. Once thecam teeth 212 disengage from the cam engagement teeth 206, the camreturn spring 222 rotates the positional cam 210 rearward in a clockwisedirection in the direction of arrow A, thus resetting the positional cam210 inside the housing 204 back to the design or zero degree position.The process can then be initiated again. The user can move the upperseatback 14 to a desired angled position relative to the seatbackassembly 48.

It will be understood by one having ordinary skill in the art thatconstruction of the described disclosure and other components is notlimited to any specific material. Other exemplary embodiments of thedisclosure disclosed herein may be formed from a wide variety ofmaterials, unless described otherwise herein.

For purposes of this disclosure, the term “coupled” (in all of itsforms, couple, coupling, coupled, etc.) generally means the joining oftwo components (electrical or mechanical) directly or indirectly to oneanother. Such joining may be stationary in nature or movable in nature.Such joining may be achieved with the two components (electrical ormechanical) and any additional intermediate members being integrallyformed as a single unitary body with one another or with the twocomponents. Such joining may be permanent in nature or may be removableor releasable in nature unless otherwise stated.

It is also important to note that the construction and arrangement ofthe elements of the disclosure as shown in the exemplary embodiments isillustrative only. Although only a few embodiments of the presentinnovations have been described in detail in this disclosure, thoseskilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciatethat many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes,dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements,values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors,orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novelteachings and advantages of the subject matter recited. For example,elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple partsor elements shown as multiple parts may be integrally formed, theoperation of the interfaces may be reversed or otherwise varied, thelength or width of the structures and/or members or connector or otherelements of the system may be varied, the nature or number of adjustmentpositions provided between the elements may be varied. It should benoted that the elements and/or assemblies of the system may beconstructed from any of a wide variety of materials that providesufficient strength or durability, in any of a wide variety of colors,textures, and combinations. Accordingly, all such modifications areintended to be included within the scope of the present innovations.Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may be madein the design, operating conditions, and arrangement of the desired andother exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of thepresent innovations.

It will be understood that any described processes or steps withindescribed processes may be combined with other disclosed processes orsteps to form structures within the scope of the present disclosure. Theexemplary structures and processes disclosed herein are for illustrativepurposes and are not to be construed as limiting.

It is also to be understood that variations and modifications can bemade on the aforementioned structures and methods without departing fromthe concepts of the present disclosure, and further it is to beunderstood that such concepts are intended to be covered by thefollowing claims unless these claims by their language expressly stateotherwise.

What is claimed is:
 1. A vehicle seating assembly comprising: a lowerseatback; an upper seatback operably coupled to the lower seatback,wherein the upper seatback is pivotally mounted to the lower seatback ata pivot axis; and a manual articulation assembly operably coupling thelower seatback with the upper seatback, the manual articulation assemblycomprising: a housing member including a cam channel and an inner wallwith a plurality of engagement recesses; and a positional cam includinga cam pin engaged with the cam channel and an outer wall with aplurality of engagement teeth in removable engagement with the pluralityof engagement recesses, wherein the cam pin is linearly slidable in thecam channel.
 2. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the campin is linearly slidable between a lowered position that disengages theengagement teeth from the engagement recesses and a raised position thatengages the engagement teeth with the engagement recesses.
 3. Thevehicle seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the manual articulationassembly is configured to position the upper seatback in one of a rearposition, intermediate position and a forward position.
 4. The vehicleseating assembly of claim 1, wherein the manual articulation assembly isoperably coupled with an arcuate back support bar that supports theupper seatback.
 5. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 4, wherein thearcuate back support bar that supports the upper seatback has agenerally U-shaped construction.
 6. A vehicle seating assemblycomprising: a lower seatback; an upper seatback; a manual articulationassembly pivotally coupling the lower seatback with the upper seatback,the manual articulation assembly comprising: a housing member includinga cam channel and an inner wall with a plurality of engagement recesses;and a positional cam including a cam pin engaged with the cam channeland an outer wall with a plurality of engagement teeth engaged with theplurality of engagement recesses, wherein the cam pin is linearlyslidable in the cam channel.
 7. A vehicle seating assembly of claim 6,wherein the cam pin is linearly slidable between a lowered position thatdisengages the engagement teeth from the engagement recesses and araised position that engages the engagement teeth with the engagementrecesses.
 8. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 6, wherein the manualarticulation assembly is configured to position the upper seatback inone of a rear position, intermediate position and a forward position. 9.The vehicle seating assembly of claim 6, wherein the manual articulationassembly is operably coupled with an arcuate back support bar thatsupports the upper seatback.
 10. The vehicle seating assembly of claim9, wherein the arcuate back support bar that supports the upper seatbackhas a generally U-shaped construction.
 11. A vehicle seating assemblycomprising: a lower seatback; an upper seatback operably coupled to thelower seatback, wherein the upper seatback is pivotally mounted to thelower seatback at a pivot axis; and a manual articulation assemblyincluding a cam pin linearly slidable in a cam channel, and coupling thelower seatback with the upper seatback to temporarily lock the upperseatback at one of a plurality of angled positions relative to the lowerseatback.
 12. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 11, wherein the campin is linearly slidable between a lowered position that disengagesengagement teeth from engagement recesses and a raised position thatengages the engagement teeth with the engagement recesses.
 13. Thevehicle seating assembly of claim 11, wherein the manual articulationassembly is configured to position the upper seatback in one of a rearposition, intermediate position and a forward position.
 14. The vehicleseating assembly of claim 11, wherein the manual articulation assemblyis operably coupled with an arcuate back support bar that supports theupper seatback.
 15. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 14, whereinthe arcuate back support bar that supports the upper seatback has agenerally U-shaped construction.